Park board to study arming rangers

Metro Parks officials say they want to study whether there is danger in the parks before allowing rangers to carry guns, but rangers say the parks board is stalling amid growing safety threats.

Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch

Metro Parks officials say they want to study whether there is danger in the parks before allowing rangers to carry guns, but rangers say the parks board is stalling amid growing safety threats.

On Sunday, Columbus and Bexley police responded to a call that several people had been jumped and beaten along the Alum Creek multiuse path near Livingston Avenue, said Metro Parks Executive Director John O’Meara.

Tracy Rader, a staff representative with the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council, which represents about 20 rangers, said the attacks illustrate why rangers should carry guns.

“Crime does happen in the parks,” Rader said.

The Metro Parks board meets at 4 p.m. today at Blacklick Woods Metro Park to consider a proposal to hire a consultant to assess safety in the parks. Board members are to discuss a resolution to develop a scope of services to request proposals from companies. A recommendation to hire someone would come at the May 14 board meeting.

Jim McGregor, one of three park commissioners, said the proposal is not a stall tactic and that a decision on arming rangers needs to be made as quickly as possible.

In January, Rader repeated a request rangers made in 2011 to carry firearms as their counterparts do in state parks and other metropolitan park systems statewide.

During the February Metro Parks meeting, board members said they were willing to study the idea. The resolution being considered today says the consultant must consider the ability of outside law-enforcement agencies to assist rangers. The consultant also must include a detailed cost estimate for any changes and take into consideration the system’s fiscal constraints.

“I don’t want to spend too much money on this,” McGregor said.

O’Meara has opposed arming rangers. He said their focus should be customer service. He called incidents such as Sunday’s rare.

Metro Parks had 47 reports of theft last year, as well as 32 of damage to park property, 13 of alcohol or drugs and nine of failing to obey a ranger or disorderly conduct. There were no reports of assaults or robberies.

The rangers argue that, because state law allows park visitors to carry guns, they, too, should be able to arm themselves.

The Friends of Metro Parks — a nonprofit, volunteer group — has not taken a stand on the gun request.

“I want the rangers to be safe,” said Debra Knapke, a founding director. “I want the visitors to be safe. But I don’t want accidents.